December 2022: Politics of Showdown

The month of December witnessed the return of political violence in the streets of Dhaka after years. Naya Paltan, the location of BNP’s central office, turned into a battleground between its activists and law enforcement forces. The political showdown on the field has always been part of the democratic culture of this part of the world but unfortunately, some political parties still consider it as the primary strategy for political powerplay. The need for political rallies, showdowns, etc. is undeniable but these cannot be the primary strategy in a developed democratic process.

Policies and plans for nation-building and long-term developmental goals should be at the forefront of electoral strategy. Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party are the two juggernauts in our national politics and have ruled the country for the lion’s share of its history. Judging the foreseeable political timeline, they are destined to be inscribed into the top of the electoral course. For the sake of democratic growth; historical, current, and future ideological and policy-level interfacing should be at the forefront.

We have also seen a rise in the unwished interferences from foreign diplomats with clear violations of Vienna protocol in name of human rights and the democratic process. Bangladesh is on a clear path of development and these interferences are factually a hindrance. If our international partners are sincere about our democratic, socio-economic and cultural development it needs to be understood that such interferences are not constructively helpful

TANZEEN W. BRISTY
Chief Executive Officer